Heater for aeroplanes



March 12 1929. T. J. LEE 1,705,126

HEATER FOR AEROPLANES Filed June 16, 1927 INVEN TOR.

7/?0Mas 4/ 55 ATTORNEY.

' heated condition This invention relates to an improvement in aeroplane construction, and more particularly to the heating means to be applied to desired parts of the aeroplane in order to provide for the heating f any exposed portion or portions of the aerop ane to prevent the accumulation of ice the planes or other thereon.

It is well known that in aeroplane flying and particularly long distance flights moisv on the ex of the plane and particularly the external ture accumulates surfaces of the planes, geals in the accumulated welght.

The main object of the present invention is the provision of heating means in the independent not necessarily trolled, which may be applied at w' l to selected areas of the aeroplane and" particularly the wings or planes to' maintain a of any desired intensity which will prevent the congealing of moismm or the accumulation of ice or snow of form v of though thereon.

The Invention is illu vention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged section on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the means for energizing and com trolling the electric heaters.

The invention is here shown as applied to a conventional aeroplane of the bi-plane type and involves the provision of guides 1 fixed at appropriate points on the aero-- plane, and preferably beneath the lower surf ace of the fplanes or wings '2. A heating orm of a plate 3 adapted to be unit in the removably positioned 4 of th by set-screws or other adapted to be arranged in t e guides at with an ap ropriate type of heating elements, here sli will, and is provided coils 6.

form of ice and adds such a weight to the plane as to at best materially retard its progress, with the continual liability of forcing the plane down under the strated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

igure 1 is a perspective view of an aeroplane illustrating the application of the ,in-

on the edge flanges e guides 1 and to be secured in place 7 A series of such heating units will be 'positioned at desired points planes, and in other appropriate positions,

Application filed June. 16, 1927. Serial No. 199,347.

posed portions which moisture conunits, preferably electricall convery great. v

While the heatin ient method of ap on' the guide brackets mg medium,

The h securin means 5 is ergized energized at will by t own as 'sired through the oper pipe connection with th gine to utilize the exhaust gases of the heator the use of a circulating system of fluid which may be heated at a central point by the engine and caused to circulate at will through the heating units. These modifications being obvious adaptations of the invention here disclosed believed necessary to. illustrate.

eating units where electric may be positioned and 0 prior 'to thestart of th ICE.

and such units, in the instanceillustrated, will be energized for the development of heat in the coils 6 through main conductors 7 and 8 which may be energized directly from a generator 9 driven from the engine 10 in a well understood manner, or may be energized from a storage battery 11, the ca pacity of which is governed by the tor in the usual manner.

The heating units are connected in parallel with the conductors" 7 and 8 so that maximum heat may be developed in e and the service of one will notdepend the electrical integrity of any other unit.

Obviously,'e'ach unit may if desired be provided with a switch to be controlled by. the aviator, and the main circ vbe provided with a switch, so tor may utilize the effect of th only. when such effect is de saving the current when the tion of the units is not necessary.

The units when in operation will serve to heat the adjacent parts of the aeroplane, and particularly the wings or planes, to a degree to prevent ice.accumulation onthe surface, it being appreciated that the degree heat necessary to secure this result is not uits may also that the aviae heating unit sired, thereby heating funcunits are shown as electrically energize such being a convenlying the heat, itis to be understood that t e invention contemplates the use of any heating media, whether electrical or not, such for e heating units in the fa closed containers adapt xample as the use of rm of more or less ed to be sup orted and having exible e exhaust of the engeneraare not I ally enonnected e flight, and may be he aviator when deation of a switch located convenient to his hand on the instrument-board. Thus, in meeting adverse conon the wings or ditions during a flight, the aviator has at his command. a means to prevent the accumula- 1,705,126. UNITED STATES PA-TENT OFF tion of ice or the like on the planes or other a plurality of electric heating units and a parts of his aeroplane, and may thus avoid means secured to the aeroplane wing for rea serious and dangerous Condition which exmovably holding the units in contact with 10 perience has proven is almost certainly enthe under surface of the wing.

5 countered in long distance flights. In testimony whereof I affix-my signature.

What I claim to be new is:

- THOMAS LEE.

'- A heater for aeroplane wings comprising 

